File photo dated 29/10/2019 of the front door of number 10 Downing Street in London
(Picture: PA Wire)The first fines are being issued over alleged lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall in a move which will put Boris Johnson's leadership under fresh pressure.
The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that investigators will begin to refer the notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which would be responsible for issuing the penalties.
It is expected that further fines could be issued as officers continue to go through the evidence gathered.
The force is investigating at least 12 events, including six the Prime Minister is thought to have attended.
What’s happened so far?
Tuesday’s announcement means that the first 20 fines are to be sent to a group of unidentified offenders who police have concluded broke the Covid regulations in place at the time of the relevant party.
Each person will have to decide whether to pay and admit the offence or contest it. Anyone who does the latter risks prosecution and, if found guilty, a criminal conviction. Those who pay the fine will not receive a criminal conviction.
What happens next?
The Met investigation will continue. The force said on Tuesday that it still has a significant amount of evidence to assess.
That’s not surprising, given that more than 100 questionnaires were sent out to suspected offenders involved in one or more of the 12 parties being probed, and it could be some time yet before the police have made their final decisions on who should be fined and who shouldn’t.
Will we know if the PM is fined?
Yes, although the Met has made clear it won’t say, Downing Street has said that it will tell the public if Mr Johnson has been fined. His spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday that the PM has not been issued with a fine for Covid regulation breaches at this time.
How likely is that?
The PM has always insisted that he broke no laws and was working when he attended his birthday celebration and the Downing Street drinks that are among the events under investigation.
Some legal experts think his excuses will not be good enough to meet the exceptions stipulated in the Covid legislation. That could lead to the issue being tested in court if the PM and the police differ, although the stakes involved in a court hearing will be even higher for Mr Johnson.
What about the politics and will he be toppled if he’s fined?
This is impossible to say and will depend entirely on Tory MPs and how they gauge the public mood. When the partygate probe began the position looked potentially fatal for the PM, but the start of the war in Ukraine has deflected attention and could diminish the appetite of some for removing him.
